Big Technology in Small Things

Back in 1972, something very small came into thean article on israel21c.com's website by, Bob
United States, and it has changed the lives of millionsRosenbaum, December 27th, 2004, a company called
of people. The Honda CVCC, introduced to America inApNano Materials is extending that technology even
1972, a year before the beginning of the oil crisis, hasinto engine lubrication. They have developed a
changed technology in the automotive industry forever.lubrication called NanoLub, based on spherical inorganic
Nobody ever imagined the impact it would have onnanoparticles. Its function is the same as the existing
America's culture or economy. That change didn'tlubricants, to reduce wear and tear on moving parts,
come overnight, though. It took almost 20 years forbut the way it performs is drastically different.
Honda to be considered a premier car company. Now,According to the creators, the use of NanoLub can
big manufacturers, like General Motors and Ford Motoreven make the need for an oil change obsolete. It is
Corporation, are trying to develop cars to competealready being tested in power plant turbines, medical
with Honda, which was unthinkable when the CVCCindustry equipment, and maintenance-free
first debuted.environments.
The "Asian Invasion" didn't happen overnight, and theThe point is…
small things in automotive technology are not going toNanoLub uses technology that is already being used in
stop making big changes. One of the smallestsynthetic lubes today. The molecular structure was
technologies is "nanotechnology." Nanotechnology isbuilt using nanotechnology. Honda didn't become the
research done in the range of 0 - 100 nanometers. Tostandard household name it is now until after 20 years
give an example of how small a nanometer is, aof being sold in the United States, and they were
pinhead is about 1.5 million nanometers.around for more than 50 years before that. Like
How could something this small be affecting the autoHonda, synthetic lubricants have been building a name
industry in such a big way?for themselves and are becoming more and more
Technology at this level is already being employed incommon as the lubricant of choice. The oil change
the circuitry of your car's electronics. It is being used tobusiness isn't going away in the near future and more
develop better products in everyday life as well, fromand more people are going to make the switch to
tennis balls and hard drives, even sunscreen.synthetics. Nanotechnology isn't going to replace
Nanotechnology plays a very active role. According tosynthetic oils. It is only going to make them better.